countersniper wrote:as far i know the M60 NAVAL specialist boats being given to kenya navy by the USA are mostly no longer in use as they were faced out by new boats that can carry a more lethal crew of 7 to 10 men... because the M60 is designed to carry maximum five heavily armed commando style men.M60 are mostly in storage as surplus equipment i the usa navy.

@CountersniperThe rigid inflatable boats [described by the US Navy as “High-speed, high-buoyancy, extreme-weather craft with the primary mission of SEAL insertion/extraction”] destined for Kenya are being built. They are the kind in the clip below [typically carry 2 crew and 7 SEALS]

http://youtu.be/r2KqytXgUOU

thanks i have retracted my post above. my information was wrong...ABOUT THE BOATS.sorry. but as you can see from that you tube video..the boats can only carry maximum four to five operators

@CountersniperI counted upto 8 in the picture [+room for 2 more] see it here: http://www.tradeaidmonitor.com/2012/05/kenya-getting-navy-seal-boats-from-obama.html

THE pictures you have attached is of another type of fast rubber boat..which has no provision for a machine gun mounting as you can see from the photos above in your post.anyway..i think we have settled the issue. kdf is getting the version for carrying five men as per ole onkarei suggestions

these are the type of boats that can carry up to ten men that ISRAELI naval forces use that American are now also operating...see this link here

like most of you the new SBU package went under my radar..… the last time I checked the SBU were conducting a Distance blockage using Wheelhoused rigid-hulled inflatable boat, (RHIB) received in 2004 from US.the boats were used for going in and out deltas and river mouths in Som. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32W7odoWs8w Kudos KN for your new toys.

Could someone remind the blog and the Nation that, SOC- KDF ops was an AMISOM planned operation coined in the corridors of a HQ in Mogadishu????….now you all get it eehhh….rehatting to AMISOM was a legal tassel , OLN and its assets, F-5EM, Chinese mosquito(Zw-9), KN-corvette(KNS shujaa with its 15km range super rapido Gun) plus the “KDF-AMISOM land brigade” continues to the final product a buffering client state of juba land (which will linda the Nchi)…dam-it...Kenyana and the Lamu corridor are Visible on the Horizon.

mogen wrote:KDF Navy ship in action on Somalia waters. Is this the one that was in action in Kismayu the other night?

I thought we agreed to post pictures knowing that other members can verify their sources and authenticity. The picture was 'scooped' from Russian sites, like here and here. Nice pic anyways. I liked this one from one of the sites hosting that frigate;You don't want to open a door to find those guys waiting for you

“Kismayu happens to be in the sector that Kenya occupies, that is sector 2, but for reasons that are beyond Kenya it was agreed that it will be captured by all of us. This is in writing. There is some sense of pride, by the other AMISOM members to feel like they had a slice of Kismayu and this is what I gather and that is okay. But in the meantime, we continue to exert pressure on Al Shabaab, we are only seven kilometres short of Kismayu at sea,” he said.

aieeeee they agreed in writing with who?..kdf went to Somalia to defeat alshabab ..they did not agree in writing with anyone before launching this operation.now who wants to take pride in liberating kismayu after KDF has done all the heavy lifting?this is BS of the highest orderin that press conference..yusuf haji is clearly very uncomfortable with what the general is saying.

countersniper wrote:aieeeee they agreed in writing with who?..kdf went to Somalia to defeat alshabab ..they did not agree in writing with anyone before launching this operation.now who wants to take pride in liberating kismayu after KDF has done all the heavy lifting?this is BS of the highest orderin that press conference..yusuf haji is clearly very uncomfortable with what the general is saying.

Yeah, It chokes a man kitu bad, @Countersniper. General Karangi spits out those words, his obvious frustration choking him too.

Now, I know you are a student of Military Science, because I know you served. You recall the genesis of the Cold War in Europe? It was the entry of Allied Powers into Germany and the determination to influence Germany post-war and by extension the entire Continental Europe. If you will recall, the careful juggling of the Political Oversight of the Allied Forces failed finally to ensure their Unity of Purpose during the War continued Post War, their desperate efforts to avert a fall-out which went as far as ordering General Patton to halt all further movement towards Berlin which lay defenseless directly before the 3rd Army so that Marshall Zukhov would catch up and make simultaneous entry with General Patton into Berlin; despite these efforts there still ensued in a complete division of the City of Governance and Germany itself that last sixty years. This is an oversimplification but still germane nonetheless.

I posted months ago that this Somalia Theatre has the genesis of endless conflict between Kenya and Ethiopia in view of the strong National Interests both have in Somalia unless all these sensibilities were carefully managed. External powers would obviously exploit such a situation, and Kenyana would be dead before it even began. UGABAG was tasked to push southwards from Baidoa and Mogadishu, but with a delayed deployment occasioned by the Logistics of the insertion of the extra half-brigade authorized by the UNSC / AU, the ENDF has failed to withdraw as planned, and recently publicly expresses worry that KDF would take advantage of this UGABAG delayed Deployment to close Kismayu by itself! The situation is not helped by the AU delay in facilitating kitting of the enhanced AMISOM with the so-called Force Enablers and Expanders.

For the strategic mid-term interests of Kenya, we must swallow that galling ball that sticks so hurtfully in our gullet, and just wait for these pieces to fall in place. But, dammit!!

The story about the Fall of Afmadow was well reported.Military operations to mop out pockets of resistance throughout Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday ended with KDF/SNA in control of the town.

SNA confirmed the fall on Sunday and also Monday morning. SIN was prosecuted by Major Chirchir himself but the report came out clean...Afmadow fell.11M Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boats

The navy is getting 5- 11M Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boats from the U.S. Naval Sea Systems CommandThe 11M Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boat is a 36-ft. turbocharged vessels. It is designed to carry a crew of three in addition to one SEAL squad.

Rifts between players in the command and roles of AMISOM are manifesting.Uganda and Ethiopia have been pushing KDF to storm Kismyo or they do it themselves.Both want glory and a quick victory without worrying about the ramifications.Karangi told away indirectly his frustrations with these players terming them as 'troops wanting to take pride of being the ones who have seized the key target'

mogen wrote:KDF Navy ship in action on Somalia waters. Is this the one that was in action in Kismayu the other night?

I thought we agreed to post pictures knowing that other members can verify their sources and authenticity. The picture was 'scooped' from Russian sites, like here and here. Nice pic anyways. I liked this one from one of the sites hosting that frigate;You don't want to open a door to find those guys waiting for you

@Sparta mansorry, I forgot to include the link to the page where I got the photo. Here it is: http://www.keydmedia.net/en/news/article/al_shabab-held_somali_port_town_is_under_heavy_bombardment_2nd_day/

countersniper wrote:in that press conference..yusuf haji is clearly very uncomfortable with what the general is saying.

General Karangi spits out those words, his obvious frustration choking him too.

For the strategic mid-term interests of Kenya, we must swallow that galling ball that sticks so hurtfully in our gullet, and just wait for these pieces to fall in place. But, dammit!!

@ON, @Countersniper & @AnalystAfter watching this Video Clip a few times I see 1. A very frustrated but cautiously diplomatic General who is mouthing words that clearly hurt him-hands tied at the back sort of thing. Balancing multiple interests2. A very frustrated Defence Minister3. Unseen AMISOM participants looking for an excuse to 'pounce' on our CDF when they meet at their big table somewhere, maybe in Addis Ababa or Crazy Town.

Like being between a rock and a hard place.

@ON I hear your account of Gen Patton's predicament. But I also see a scenario developing where KDF might be forced (by circumstances) to secure Kismayo first then address the 'written agreement' and 'pride' maneno. I'm sure you see beyond where I'm seeing, after all you are taller .

Afmadow and Kismayu are tied at the hip"Afmadow is falling, there is still fighting but by daybreak it will be ours...Kenya navy vessels received fire from a hostile Al-Shebab watch tower off the coast of Kismayo... we engaged them and destroyed the watch tower. We shall be engaging them off the coast of Kismayo as and when opportunity presents itself." Col Cyrus Oguna

...other reports from Kismayo suggested other foreign naval vessels may also have been patrolling offshore from the port, but these could not be independently verified...Source: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=52564

Something is happening in that theatre, perhaps much more than what we may be hearing.Any pictures from Afmadow?

SOMALIA: Al Shabaab spokesman says they killed three KDF commanders"...Al Shabaab group said that they have killed three senior commanders from Kenyan Defense Forces known as KDF in ambush battle near Afmadow.........."

1 Response KDF infantry says:May 30, 2012 at 7:08 pmHa Ha HaaaaHoHoHeHe, Ati that they have killed three senior commanders from Kenyan Defense Forces, as i am typing this, KDF is in Afmadow with all our commanders and equipments, Ha Ha HaaaaHoHoHeHe, and Sheikh Abdiasis abu Mus’ab has just run away leaving his sandles and mobile phone.Ha Ha HaaaaHoHoHeHe

Uniforms, where are the Afmadow photos? @Sparta man did well to post pics from Afgoye.

Watched and read Gen. Karangi's comments, and his pain (obviously borne out of his patriotism) was palpable. But I would like to differ with his main point - that other members want a slice of Kismayu for pride.

Let's look at the big picture first. The UNSC and the wider AU has a plan for Somali elections at the end of the tenure of the current TFG, sometime around August 20 2012. The next government is expected to be more robust and less Mogadishu-centric. It should be able to pull the strings in all towns, including Kismayu, hence AMISOM's desire that Kismayu must fall before August. And while the UNSC has one eye on the fighting, the other eye is on their purse - they don't have an open ended funding commitment from UNSC member countries.

Also of importance, although it may not be stated, if KDF gets Kismayu alone given its avowed agenda during OLN (creating buffer zones, having a friendly militia in control, the Azania project etc) the outcome may not sit pretty well in the picture that countries that don't have strategic interests in Somalia have. The AU and the UNSC who proposed most of the stuff in the MOU wanted lockstep movement of all the forces.

As a military man, I can't overlook the fact that there could be military calculations vis-a-viz the August election timeline. Kismayu now has the biggest concentration of the enemy and his assets. Most of the battles fought so far have not dealt the enemy's men or equipment a heavy blow. KDF can take Kismayu, about that there's no doubt, but can it do so before August given the concentration of enemy assets there? The UNSC and AU, demonstrably, have doubts. So for Gen. Karangi to say that the other forces want a 'slice' of Kismayu, only to contradict himself by saying they have not taken positions, means he is only telling Kenyans what is convenient for him to say. By landing in Mogadishu (a much bigger city) in a hail of fire and liberating block by block, to the point of now taking towns 30km outside, UGABAG has nothing to prove in Somalia anymore. I can't talk for the Ethiopians but what I can say is that group effort is needed to remove AS from Kismayu before August. Just my opinion.

On a lighter note, did the good Maj. Chirchir just put the cart before the horse again. TFG sources say the offensive is on the outskirts of Afmadow and that the town is yet to fall.

@Spartan – one Uniform to another, I must say candidly that it drains me a whole lot not to find offense in your impolite second-guessing-type criticism that you somehow find in your analysis of the forty seconds footage carrying the KDF/CDF speech. Notwithstanding that you do so with the intention to add value to the debate on-going. I would not show similar overtly scornful disregard even to you despite the difference in our Uniform – whether or not you outranked me.

I had earlier posted analysis that on the most part finds agreement with yours on the Unitary AU Somalia Strategy post-AS, dependent on a coordinated lock-and-step approach to the closure of this Theatre. And indeed on the divergence of KDF / OLN Azania Strategy, Ethiopia’s concern of the influence Azania would occasion her restive Ogaden Province, as well as the Policy AU is pushing of a Federated Somalia State. We both agree these are very complex matters that could have far-reaching ramifications for Eastern Africa if handled from purely Nationalistic considerations alone.

We agree that the KDF lull in taking Kismayo, no matter that it was inadvertently not KDF strategy, allowed AS to redeploy in numbers and material into Kismayo, serving to effectively degrade AS offensive capabilities (Leadership, material, ranks) ranged against UGABAG and ENDF in Mogadishu, Benadir, Hiraan, Shabelle, Bay, Bakool, all Gedo, all Jubaland ( analysis of the timelines of UGABAG Crazy Town break-out versa vis the KDF /OLN jump-off are instructive), which creates precipitous conditions /situation for a decisive engagement in Kismayo that effectively terminates the Al Shabaab as a fighting force.

I most certainly disagree with (a) your repeated assertions that KDF somehow lacks both the Military capacity to foreclose effectively and efficiently and with finality on Kismayo, a quite most outlandish expression lacking fact, (b) that the Kenya Nation somehow has no stomach for an expected higher-than-usual KIA from a Kismayo Assault, which honestly shows extremely poor comprehension of the Kenyan body-politic, (c) that AU and the UNSC somehow lack confidence in KDF ability to effectively and efficiently foreclose on Kismayo, an assertion that is inconsistent with the AU specifically making forceful appeal to the KDF Political Oversight for holding orders outside Afmadow and the land & sea-approaches to Kismayo pending completion of withdrawal of ENDF upon a ‘’backfill’’ of the Bay and Bakool sector now occupied by the ENDF with the additional UGABAB / Burundi Half-Brigade recently approved by the AU.

And more specifically that (d) AMISOM and ENDF have not converged to extracted the political concessions that KDF/CDF pointedly alluded to, through the AU, for a inclusion in the assault and suppression of Kismayo. Thus far, none of these two Army groups are anywhere near the Staging Areas for this Assault – it is disconcerting to read your accusations that the CDF is lying, AT ALL, let alone about something that is already in the public domain – isn’t there even honor amongst thieves any longer?? Let alone Men of War? Calling you out, mate!!

Spartan wrote:Watched and read Gen. Karangi's comments, and his pain (obviously borne out of his patriotism) was palpable. But I would like to differ with his main point - that other members want a slice of Kismayu for pride.1)...The UNSC and the wider AU ...don't have an open ended funding commitment from UNSC member countries.2)...if KDF gets Kismayu alone ... the outcome may not sit pretty well in the picture that countries that don't have strategic interests in Somalia have. The AU and the UNSC who proposed most of the stuff in the MOU wanted lockstep movement of all the forces.3)... KDF can take Kismayu, about that there's no doubt, but can it do so before August given the concentration of enemy assets there? The UNSC and AU, demonstrably, have doubts. So for Gen. Karangi contradicted himself4)... I can't talk for the Ethiopians but what I can say is that group effort is needed to remove AS from Kismayu before August.

@Sparta man1. Granted, UNSC & AU do not have an open-ended funding commitment. Why then wire in their MoU a clause that makes KDF sit for so long while waiting for the other players to join in the assault on Kismayu. At the same time, KDF kept receiving a bashing for not advancing yet AMISOM did not make public their hand in the delay? Perhaps, the reason may be found in your point no. 2 above2. AMISOM's other players weren't sure their interests could be catered for if KDF took Kismayu alone. Therein seems to be the reason for holding KDF's hand.3. That UNSC & AU have doubts about KDF taking Kismayu before August is lame. The planners know that some of the air, land and sea assets that KDF has readied for the assault on Kismayu were not available to UGABAG forces in Muqdishu otherwise the city wouldn't have taken AMISOM that long.4. Remember Ethiopian General John lamenting why KDF didn't take Kismayu when Ethiopians took Baidoa? Clearly, KDF was held for unexplained reasons but blamed and ridiculed for not advancing. This issue has been discussed and you can see the sneering remarks made by @Flying Crane below:

Flying Crane wrote:

Olekoima wrote:Aren't rains hampering KDF activity this time round? Or it isn't raining out there? What a lame excuse they gave us last time. Ati rains, nkt.

cash friend....no cash..funds were squandered and diverted to personal accounts..wait until after june 1st. i don,tknow why you folks don,t want to believe me

As you can see, Gen Karangi and his men are damned if they did and damned if they did not.

ole Nkarei wrote:@Spartan – one Uniform to another, I must say candidly that it drains me a whole lot not to find offense in your impolite second-guessing-type criticism that you somehow find in your analysis of the forty seconds footage carrying the KDF/CDF speech. Notwithstanding that you do so with the intention to add value to the debate on-going.

We agree that the KDF lull in taking Kismayo, no matter that it was inadvertently not KDF strategy, allowed AS to redeploy in numbers and material into Kismayo, serving to effectively degrade AS offensive capabilities (Leadership, material, ranks) ranged against UGABAG and ENDF in Mogadishu, Benadir, Hiraan, Shabelle, Bay, Bakool, all Gedo, all Jubaland ( analysis of the timelines of UGABAG Crazy Town break-out versa vis the KDF /OLN jump-off are instructive), which creates precipitous conditions /situation for a decisive engagement in Kismayo that effectively terminates the Al Shabaab as a fighting force.

I most certainly disagree with (a) your repeated assertions that KDF somehow lacks both the Military capacity to foreclose effectively and efficiently and with finality on Kismayo, a quite most outlandish expression lacking fact, (b) that the Kenya Nation somehow has no stomach for an expected higher-than-usual KIA from a Kismayo Assault, which honestly shows extremely poor comprehension of the Kenyan body-politic, (c) that AU and the UNSC somehow lack confidence in KDF ability to effectively and efficiently foreclose on Kismayo, an assertion that is inconsistent with the AU specifically making forceful appeal to the KDF Political Oversight for holding orders outside Afmadow and the land & sea-approaches to Kismayo pending completion of withdrawal of ENDF upon a ‘’backfill’’ of the Bay and Bakool sector now occupied by the ENDF with the additional UGABAB / Burundi Half-Brigade recently approved by the AU.

Thus far, none of these two Army groups are anywhere near the Staging Areas for this Assault – it is disconcerting to read your accusations that the CDF is lying, AT ALL, let alone about something that is already in the public domain – isn’t there even honor amongst thieves any longer?? Let alone Men of War? Calling you out, mate!!

My apologies if my post my post was impolite and overly critical, but I get the feeling you reacted to many of my previous posts in this single post. For the record, no one doubts the ability of KDF to take Kismayu. It is the time frame within which this has to be achieved that led UNSC and AU to dictate matters. My personal preference would be for KDF to go it alone. What's more, I don't like the look of ENDF, KDF and UPDF in the same theatre - I would prefer you eat your pilao and we eat ours and meet in the middle.

If KDF took Afmadow today and blitzed to Kismayu and told AMISOM that you know what, we are attacking the city while the enemy is still in disarray, I don't think anyone would say, No, Don't do it, wait for the Ugandans and Ethiopians!

@Mogen, you don't suppose Uganda has interests in Somalia, do you. Your real rivals are the Ethiopians, which is surprising coz I thought LAPSSET had closed the deal.

Like I said earlier, KDF wrote its own script and it's up to KDF to write the ending, and with it, frame the narrative. Au sio?

Spartan wrote: It is the time frame within which this has to be achieved that led UNSC and AU to dictate matters. My personal preference would be for KDF to go it alone. What's more, I don't like the look of ENDF, KDF and UPDF in the same theatre - I would prefer you eat your pilao and we eat ours and meet in the middle.

If KDF took Afmadow today and blitzed to Kismayu and told AMISOM that you know what, we are attacking the city while the enemy is still in disarray, I don't think anyone would say, No, Don't do it, wait for the Ugandans and Ethiopians!

@Mogen, you don't suppose Uganda has interests in Somalia, do you. Your real rivals are the Ethiopians, which is surprising coz I thought LAPSSET had closed the deal.

Like I said earlier, KDF wrote its own script and it's up to KDF to write the ending, and with it, frame the narrative. Au sio?

Kismayo is much easier picking for KDF than Mogadishu ever was for UGABAG, from a Military perspective, and you know so. But for the AU ''Hold Orders'' of last November, Kismayo would have capitulated well before end of that year. KDF can quite easily swat Kismayo and ''write its own script'' - the KDF deployed in Sector III are a minuscule of what KDF can bring to bear if needed - the AS Force against it is not worthy the term ''Military Force''. But to do so would run the inconscionable risks that KDF / GoSomalia may subsequently have to wage a protracted Ethiopian-proxy war with remnants of the AS and other disaffected local militia. How do you imagine KDF has such precise numbers of AS KIA wounded from yesterday exchange? City is locked tighter than the CBK, mapped, infitrated and recce-ed to ad-minutea. AS knows so too.

Uganda is driven by the intention to pre-eminence in Geopolitical stature.

Spartan wrote:1. My personal preference would be for KDF to go it alone. What's more, I don't like the look of ENDF, KDF and UPDF in the same theatre - I would prefer you eat your pilao and we eat ours and meet in the middle.

2. If KDF took Afmadow today and blitzed to Kismayu and told AMISOM that you know what, we are attacking the city while the enemy is still in disarray, I don't think anyone would say, No, Don't do it, wait for the Ugandans and Ethiopians!

@Mogen, you don't suppose Uganda has interests in Somalia, do you. Your real rivals are the Ethiopians, which is surprising coz I thought LAPSSET had closed the deal.

@Sparta manOle Nkarei has answered your queries better than I'd. On your point no. 2 above the KDF planners are smart enough and very much capable of dealing with all emerging theatre situations, including the one you mention.

There are genuine worries that Uganda and Ethiopia pose significant risks to the operations in Somalia and the sooner AU manages that risk the better for everyone involved. And, @Analyst also mentioned this risk earlier on.

Spartan wrote:So for Gen. Karangi to say that the other forces want a 'slice' of Kismayu, only to contradict himself by saying they have not taken positions, means he is only telling Kenyans what is convenient for him to say .... etcetera.

Brother Spartan, NO. Allow me - most benignly - to state that your argument is a non-starter. This is not a case where convoluted military jargon can conceal the facts. Let's not revert back to my whaddayamacallit is bigger than your whaddayamacallit. Instead, let's pat each other on the back for a job well done in Somalia. And agree that marching into Kismayu is the Grand Finale of this event and that there is some sense of pride by the other AMISOM members to feel like they had a slice of Kismayu.For once, let's call a spade a spade. KDF is having a party and yes, everyone's invited.

mogen wrote:There are genuine worries that Uganda and Ethiopia pose significant risks to the operations in Somalia and the sooner AU manages that risk the better for everyone involved. And, @Analyst also mentioned this risk earlier on.

Analyst sees threats to Kenya everywhere he looks, hope you are not taking after him. One moment it's the Americans to blame, the other moment it's the Brits, now it's Uganda and Ethiopia.

Spartan wrote:On a lighter note, did the good Maj. Chirchir just put the cart before the horse again. TFG sources say the offensive is on the outskirts of Afmadow and that the town is yet to fall.

No, it has actually fallen. The rebels themselves have confirmed according to this news piece:-

http://af.reuters.com/article/somaliaNews/idAFL5E8GVBPS20120531

I hear there is more action in Kismayo as well, some say beach landings nearby. After all, aren't the two towns tied at the hip? Any confirmation of the stories below?Al shabab-held Somali port town is under heavy bombardment 2nd day

"On Wednesday, the bombardment resumed, residents said, describing a chaotic scene as many attempted to flee the city. "Day and night aircraft fly over us," said Mohamed, a resident reached by phone who asked that his full name not be divulged because of fear of Shabab retaliation. “People are afraid.” The city’s Shabab-controlled radio station went off the air Wednesday afternoon, though it was unknown whether it had come under attack..."

mogen wrote:I hear there is more action in Kismayo as well, some say beach landings nearby.

Not beach landing per see, @Mogen. SOC activity early hours Tuesday. The Old Warrior alluded in passing at the Press Conference with Ministers Haji / Saitoti of the Wednesday ‘s Naval action; casualty and damage assessment given later of AS 14 dead, as many wounded, and two shore-structure destroyed

Spartan wrote:1. My personal preference would be for KDF to go it alone. What's more, I don't like the look of ENDF, KDF and UPDF in the same theatre - I would prefer you eat your pilao and we eat ours and meet in the middle.

2. If KDF took Afmadow today and blitzed to Kismayu and told AMISOM that you know what, we are attacking the city while the enemy is still in disarray, I don't think anyone would say, No, Don't do it, wait for the Ugandans and Ethiopians!

@Mogen, you don't suppose Uganda has interests in Somalia, do you. Your real rivals are the Ethiopians, which is surprising coz I thought LAPSSET had closed the deal.

@Sparta manOle Nkarei has answered your queries better than I'd. On your point no. 2 above the KDF planners are smart enough and very much capable of dealing with all emerging theatre situations, including the one you mention.

There are genuine worries that Uganda and Ethiopia pose significant risks to the operations in Somalia and the sooner AU manages that risk the better for everyone involved. And, @Analyst also mentioned this risk earlier on.

interesting exchange, but no doubt highlights the need for Kismayu to be "owned" ASAP... KDF should have their Chai and worry about the handing over later. Maybe its time the diplomatic muscle was flexed again, initially we had the constraint of not being under AMISOM, that was fixed, so now GOK leads need to emphasize to UNSC, AU and other AMISOM players the need to have Kismayo under control so we can focus on cleaning, wining hearts and the political process... my other assumption is that the MOU should have considered such eventualities if at all they were worried KDF would play poker with Kismayu. Other regional players need to accept that KDF has more at stake all things considered including the Ogaden question and Meles fears ... we more than anyone else in the region need to have a steel lid on the Somali southern region; NEP and the refugee issue are a big part of this equation... wouldn't it be easier to deal with these issues with Kismayu out of the offensive maps ...

....AS don't seem to have the knack to defend anything going by the reports on capture of Afmadow and Afgoye, they seem acutely aware of the futility of resistance in such major offensives ... i see a situation whereby Kismayu will follow a similar pattern resulting in outlying pockets of AS, this guys will resist partially and abandon the port city, i doubt they'll want to besieged with the sea to their back...

Analyst sees threats to Kenya everywhere he looks, hope you are not taking after him. One moment it's the Americans to blame, the other moment it's the Brits, now it's Uganda and Ethiopia.

Spartan Bro....my job is all about identifying and reporting threats...

Ethiopia and Uganda have been playing foul. Karangi's near -'psychological war'-against other AMISOM generals explains it all.

Afgoye was a walkover so UPDF-AMISOM cannot brag while Ethiopia has consistently lost men almost daily yet these two want to use brute force on Kismayu for glory and honor...this will only pave way for new insurgency. What is the need of storming Kismayo if the mission is to create a sustainable environment for insurgency?...

This is KDF rationale about their role in Somalia...to gradually bring civility in Somalia by rooting out all aspects of militancy in the Somali society. It is a unique doctrine-strategy that even NATO has failed to implement in Afghanistan.

Ok gentlemen Amri ikitoka basi sawa we will give them the required CAS for those ops. ON buddy one more ride with that 110 FFR to red areas and disseminate the intel on kismayo to a joint ops HQ. pole bana

I am having a hunch on the game. We helped you with Kismayo therefore you are obliged to a Mogadishu ops too …no way we will stop at Kismayo and not a foot more.I want to see the competent neighbors mount successful joint operation for Mogadishu too.lets not all forget a neighbor warned us to avoid taking pride on ops mounted on small towns like fafadun and beles quoqani.He continued saying when we match into Kismayo and afmadoe for street fights we will get a true taste of what A.S is all about and KDFs blood shall flow on the streets. afmadoe is 70% over as i type and the streets are as dusty as ever.

@blog don’t worry. will have the buffer zone under KE. by hook or crook. The politicians will play their parts too… a neighbor is short sighted… LAPPSET is around the corner. God bless him

@observer KDF should have their Chai and worry about the handing over later. We don,t plan sorties like that

Risasi wrote:Ok gentlemen Amri ikitoka basi sawa we will give them the required CAS for those ops. ON buddy one more ride with that 110 FFR to red areas and disseminate the intel on kismayo to a joint ops HQ. pole bana

I am having a hunch on the game. We helped you with Kismayo therefore you are obliged to a Mogadishu ops too …no way we will stop at Kismayo and not a foot more.I want to see the competent neighbors mount successful joint operation for Mogadishu too.lets not all forget a neighbor warned us to avoid taking pride on ops mounted on small towns like fafadun and beles quoqani.He continued saying when we match into Kismayo and afmadoe for street fights we will get a true taste of what A.S is all about and KDFs blood shall flow on the streets. afmadoe is 70% over as i type and the streets are as dusty as ever.

@blog don’t worry. will have the buffer zone under KE. by hook or crook. The politicians will play their parts too… a neighbor is short sighted… LAPPSET is around the corner. God bless him

@observer KDF should have their Chai and worry about the handing over later. We don,t plan sorties like that

I dare say that the attack of Kismayo is very close probably after the president has deliver his Madraka Day speech a week later in the cover of darkness the KDF will engage the Alshabab catching them off guard. The president's speech will reassure the Nation on what is going on in the front lines and he will build public support so the people of Kenya will support its men and women in the field of battle. just my two cent opinion.

I wonder if those KDF planes flying above Kismayo are dropping any leaflets???